Switzerland Launches Antitrust Investigation Into Google

Swiss competition watchdog started a preliminary antitrust investigation into Google. The probe was launched after the tech giant scrapped a search engine selection feature for Swiss users setting up Android devices.

The country’s Secretariat of the Competition Commission (COMCO) accused Google of discontinuing the Android Choice Screen feature for users in Switzerland while continuing to offer it in the European Economic Area (EEA). The screen allows users to select their preferred default search engine during the initial setup of a new Android device.

Swiss users are apparently now presented with Google Search as the default option without being shown the Choice Screen. The watchdog argued this could strengthen the search giant’s position by reducing the visibility of rival providers and reinforcing barriers to entry at a critical stage of device setup.

The Choice Screen is designed to reduce the lock-in effects associated with preconfigured settings, noting that default settings play a decisive role in digital markets. The regulator flagged broader competition concerns, stating that the change could affect the ability of search engine providers and, more broadly, other digital service providers to compete. A further point of concern for COMCO was the continued availability of the feature in the EEA, arguing the disparity creates unequal treatment, even though the competitive issues are comparable.

The preliminary investigation will determine whether Google’s conduct breaches Switzerland’s Cartel Act, under which COMCO can impose administrative fines of up to 10% of a company’s Swiss turnover over the previous three years. While the probe is focused on Android, the watchdog added its findings could also be relevant to the assessment of practices related to default settings on other mobile devices.